Looe and District Horticultural Society (otherwise known as The Garden Club) has been celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Back when the club was founded in 1971 there were around 32 members, recalls Carole Day, and the annual subscription was 25p!

From its inception at the Millpool Toc H Hall to its present meeting place at the Community Hall at St Martin’s, Looe, it has been blessed with an excellent team of hard-working officials and appreciative members. The club moved to St Martin’s Hall in 2001 due to a large increase in membership. At present the club has 60 members.

Obviously, during these past 50 years, there have been some changes and long gone are the days when a few of the members undertook to grow flowers and cuttings for its annual May sale in Marian Pearce’s driveway which provided necessary funds for the club’s finances.

The club has remained popular, financially secure due to the benevolence of a founder member, Mr Fred Wilson, and constant in its aim to promote the knowledge and enjoyment of gardening.

Its main activities have included varied and interesting monthly speakers, numerous memorable garden visits throughout Cornwall and Devon together with some festival visits. Of course, when organising garden visits, it is always nice to make sure that tea and cakes are on hand after a pleasurable stroll around the garden!

More recently, the club has combined some outings with the Looe & District U3A Garden Safari Group (arranged by Pauline Trehane and Barbara Leck) and a number of the hard-working Looe in Bloom “girls” have joined the club to enjoy its activities.

This has resulted in a good selection of like-minded people combining the delights of gardening with making new friends.

Through more recent years, the club has been delighted to provide a new greenhouse with gardening equipment for the Looe Junior and Infants Academy, a large donation to the Widegates Village Hall for its refurbishment, together with a sizeable ongoing annual donation to help the good works of the Looe in Bloom.

Here is also just a mention of a few of our long-standing past and present members who over the years have devoted a lot of their time and effort into the club:

Mr Jack Sweet, Chairman, Mr Fred Wilson and Miss Pam Smithies – three founder members; Mrs Kay Kettle Secretary; Mrs Gladys Brown and Mrs Olive Coad, Committee and Refreshments; more recently – Mrs Sue Heeley Secretary and Outings; Mrs Tina Hitchings, Speakers’ Secretary; Mrs Marian Pearce, Assistant Treasurer; Mrs Christine Spooner, Refreshments; Mrs Karin Masson, Chairman; and Mrs Carole Day, Treasurer and Chairman.

Present Officials are: Chairlady Mrs Tina Hitchings; Secretary Mrs June Le Voi; Treasurer Mrs Mandy Ricketts; Assistant Treasurer Mrs Sandie Christiansen; Membership Secretary Mrs Beth Galipeau; Publicity Mrs Susan Barnes; Social Media Mrs Kim Price; Committee & Raffle Mrs Jackie Fletcher; Refreshments Mrs Christine Spooner.

Monthly meetings at St Martin’s Hall recommenced in September 2021 and obviously it is hoped they will continue depending on Government rulings.

Over the past months, when not able to meet at the hall on the usual monthly basis due to COVID regulations, many members have enjoyed visits to numerous gardens.

For further information on the Club and how to join please contact Membership Secretary Mrs Beth Galipeau at [email protected]